Metro Detroit Muslims Mark The End Of Ramadan By Giving Back

FARMINGTON HILLS (WWJ) -- For the 18th year, members of metro Detroit's Muslim community donated  food to the needy as part of their annual Ramadan Food Drive.

Volunteer Azhar Ali said that hundreds turned out to package about 850 boxes of food at the Sam's Club on Northwestern Highway in Farmington Hills.

"We get food items and then this gets boxed in one day," Ali said. "We box it and ship them to the various communities. It goes out to Flint, it goes to Hamtramck, Ypsilanti -- various metropolitan areas here."

Ali said that the food drive helps fulfill their obligation of helping the needy, especially during Ramadan, which ends on Sunday.

"We have various items -- we have canned corn, we have tomatoes, we have cereal, peanut butter, jelly," Ali said. "We have a bag of rice, a canister of oil, beans -- so various items, enough for a family to make at least a week's worth of meals."

Ali said that the food is being delivered to some mosques in southeast Michigan for those in need.

"Part of our religion is, obviously, to help the needy," Ali said. "This month of Ramadan that we have -- we're almost exiting it, our last day is Sunday and we have our celebration on Monday -- and one of the pillars that we have is to share with the needy."